6. Episode 903 Pumaman
During this episode, I managed to finally refold and put away everything from a Marie Kondo-ing of my T-shirts, that have been draped across my armchair for the past 2+ weeks. This is why she recommends laying everything out on the bed that you sleep in so that you have to put it away before bedtime. Welcome back to MST3Knitlaundryfoldathon, where we're watching the fan voted top-100 episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in reverse order while doing whatever needs to be done. Everybody sing along! 🎶Pumaman, he flies like a moron!🎵
A list of the Top 100 Episodes of MST3K was compiled based on a survey taken of backers of the Bring Back MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 campa
6. Episode 903 Pumaman
Summary: Centuries ago, ancient aliens visited the Aztec empire and were worshiped as gods, and left them with two symbols of protection for both the Aztec people and all humanity: a high-tech golden mask that can psychologically control people, and their own genetic material in the form of the Pumaman, a part-human son of the "gods" who inherited superhuman abilities from them and would pass these powers on to his own son, creating an unbroken line of protectors throughout the ages. Why didn't the Pumaman protect the Aztecs from colonization? ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄ In the modern day (1970s), the golden mask has been stolen from the Aztec temple and fallen into the hands of a bad guy played by veteran Bond villain Donald Pleasence, who intends to use it to control world leaders and decide the course of global politics. Why did the alien gods who (we later learn) don't intervene in human affairs because they want all men to be free and masters of themselves give the Aztecs a mind-control mask in the first place? ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄ Knowing that the current Pumaman is the only one who can stop his evil plan, Donald Pleasence attempts to find and eliminate him by throwing potential candidates out windows to see who falls like a cat. Meanwhile, the high priest of the remaining Aztec temple contacts the actual Pumaman, an American (part-Aztec?) paleontologist living in London who knows nothing of his heritage or his late father's superheroic identity. How did his dad, the previous Pumaman, die so early given all his supernatural powers, and why was his son raised in ignorance? ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄ The high priest explains that Tony already has the powers of a puma: to fall gracefully, see in the dark, instinctively sense danger, and possess the strength of a great cat. Then he gives him a belt to enhance his powers that allows him to fly, astral project, and walk through walls. You know, like a puma. Can the high priest teach the whiny paleontologist how to control his powers in time to stop Donald Pleasence's plans for world domination? (Also, why wasn't he the real hero of this movie?)
MST3K lore or notable moments: The makers of this film did not seem to know how to use the flight harness they were able to get their hands on properly, so Pumaman in flight flails about like an idiot. It's laughably unconvincing and really puts even the oldest and cheapest Superman effects into perspective as successful endeavors. It's one of the most well-remembered and iconic moments from the show.
[Edit: Also, another visit from Ortega, who visits the castle to watch Sliders with Brain Guy]
What do I think about its place on the list? I'll have to wait for the ones coming up next in the list to see if I change my mind, but Pumaman might be my favorite episode of the SciFi Channel era. It's got everything - a goofy movie, fun sketches, one of their top-notch riffs, Donald Pleasence, "each man is a god, each man is free" ... fantastic! Love the Prince Valiant-ish "Aztec" costumes, the silly special effects, that ridiculous soundtrack, the way our hero fumbles everything and has to be pushed and pulled through the adventure by the much more competent Aztec priest. And the riff is funny throughout, with special love for every time they sing along with the absolutely absurd sound track, and the "like a puma" whenever Pumaman gets a new bonkers power. And the Coatimundi Man sketch, which didn't quite make it into the notables, but is both a highly accurate takedown of the movie and a super-run bit. I could watch this episode on repeat. It's probably making it into my top 5, but therefore arguing with a top 6 placement would be quibbling in the extreme.
